Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Komtar, George Town On 21.12.12.

The Penang state government is willing to help out Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) from sustaining yearly losses of more than RM18 Million by taking over Tanjung City Marina, Swettenham Pier and the ferry services. PPSB managing director Datuk Ahmad Ibnihajar had confirmed that the Transport Ministry and Penang Port Commission(PPC), and not PPSB, was to blame for the failed RM43 million Tanjung City marina project, which fell into disrepair following a storm in 2009.

Ahmad said the failed marina was due to bad design and PPSB had in 2006 told PPC that the design was faulty in 2006. Clearly the Transport Ministry and PPC must bear full responsibility for mishandling the design, construction as well as failing to maintain the Tanjung city marina from 2006 until now when the entire marina has sunk to the bottom of the sea.

All those involved in the PPC and Transport Ministry from this period 2006-2012 should respond to Ahmad’s expose that the design fault in the Tanjung City Marina, was doomed to fail right from the very beginning. A full explanation must be given on why the PPC and Transport Ministry wasted RM43 million in public funds to implement a doomed to fail project and whether there are any more of doomed to fail projects.

The next public concern is whether the important Swettenham Pier is also one of those projects as it serves a critical link in serving cruise ships that cater to growing number of foreign tourists. The PPC and Transport Ministry’s poor management has caused a complete loss of public confidence. The state government is willing to take over and is confident of turning around the Swettenham Pier, Tanjung City Marina and the ferry services. Even the ferry services can be well run by engaging professionals with expertise as was done in the past.

The state government would also press the Federal government to fulfil its obligations as operator of Penang Port by immediately undertaking the RM355 million project of deepening of the north channel from 11 meters to 15 meters. Deepening the channel is necessary to handle bigger container ships to ensure sustainable revenue growth, which was only RM329 million last year and a slight increase this year, which is low for a significant port like Penang serving one of the most dynamic manufacturing clusters in the world.

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